Padlock for railroad interlocking plants



T. DOLS PADLOCK FOR RAILROAD 1NTERLOCKING PLANTS May 27 1924. 1,495,256

Filed Oct. 17. 1923 Patented l e-day 27, 19241.

NE ST? ,azse

THEODORE DOLS, OF HOPKINS, MINNESOTA.

Application filed October 17, 1923.

T all whom it may concern.

Be it known that THEODORE Dons, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hopkins, in the county of Hennepin and State of Minnesota, has invented certain new and useful Improvements in Padlocks for Railroad Interlocking Plants, of which the following is a specification.

This invention pertains to padlocks adapted for use on railroad interlocking plants at crossings and yards. At these points it is customary to keep the electrical apparatus under seal, each interlocking plant having a number of boxes containing circuit controllers, emergency switches, time releasers, approach indicators, etc., which are being kept under seal at all times. Seals are used at such places instead of locks to enable the towerman to get into the boxes at all timesin case of emergency. In such case, he breaks the seals and operates the apparatus by hand, pending the arrival of the signal foreman or other repairman. If padlocks were used in lieu of seals, the towerman would have no way of getting into the boxes, as they are not allowed to have keys for locks used around interlocking plants, as it is not considered a safe policy. However, the disadvantage in using seals is that they have to be broken under the circumstances stated above, and cannot be used again, which fact entails quite a heavy expense.

It is the purpose of this invention to provide a padlock having two individual keys and key holes, one of which is the primary key and is always in the possession of the signal foreman or other oflicial, while the other key is what may be termed a secondary key and is permanently mounted in connection with the lock, and has its handle secured by a small seal, which must be broken to enable the towerman to open the lock. The signal foreman can later reseal the attached key.

In the drawing Figure 1 is a front elevation of the lock, showing the primary, removable key inserted in the lock, and the secondary, anchored key mounted onthe lock and sealed;

Figure 2 is an edge view of the lock with the primary key removed and the secondary key opened out for use;

Figure 3 is a front view of the lock with the face plate removed, showing the interior mechanism;

Figure 4 is a rear view of the front plate Serial No. 669,031.

as removed, showing the inner or working end of the secondary key;

Figure 5 is a cross section through the lock, showing the two keys in place;

Figures 6 and 7 are detail views of the bolt tumbler block;

- Figure 8 is a detail of one of the combination plates with attached spring; I

Figure 9 is a detail of the primary key;

k Figure 10 is a detail of the secondary The invention comprises a suitable casing 1 of conventional form for a padlock, and having a curved shackle 2 pivoted by one end at 3 to one side of the casing, with the opposite end closing into the casing through the aperture 4 and this end having.

a bolt hole 5 formed therein. Within this casing is pivoted at 6 a bolt tumbler block 7 having a bolt 8 adapted to enter the bolt holes 5 of the shackle as the latter is closed into the casing, and having below the said bolt a lip 9, which the free end of the shackle first strikes in the process of closing the shackle into the casing, causing the whole block 7 to partially rotate on its pivot 6, and causing the bolt 8 to rock into and through the bolt hole 5 of the shackle. A stop pin 10 on the casing limits the movement of the block 7 to the proper degree. The tumbler block 7 is made in the shape to coact with the combination plates 11, 12, 13, 14. As here shown, this block carries a surface tooth adapted to be impinged by the primary key 16 for rotating the block and withdrawing the bolt 8, after the said key has first raised the combination plates which bound the block 7 against movement. Back of this tooth 15 the block is recessed out as shown at 17, leaving a lip 18 for coacting with the said combination plates 11, 12, 13 and 14, as will be explained. At the upper side of the block, over the lip 18, is formed a recess 19, leaving a stop shoulder 20 for a purpose also to be explained later. The said combination plates are also eccentrically formed, and are pivoted in the casing by the pin 21 which freely pierces them. They are formed with central and varying key holes 22, 23, 24-, 25, and with forwardly extended stop fingers 26, adapted to fall into the recess 19 and against the shoulder 20 as the shackle is pressed home and serve to bind the block 7 against movement until these combination plates are properly raised by the keys. Thecombination plates also have extended upwardly from their under edges, additional stop fingers 27 adapted to rock into the recess 17 of the block 7, back of the lip 18, as the plates are manipulated by the keys. A key pin 28 extends from the back of the case out through the key holes 22, 23, 2 1, of the plates, and is adapted to engage the bore of the end of the secondary key 29.

A. like key pin 30 engages the bore of the end of the primary key 16. Hair springs 31 are braced against the side of the casing and act to normally hold the combination plates in their lowermost or depressed position. The lower edges of the combination plates may be cut away as desired to vary and differentiate their movement under the action of the primary key 16, this key being in turn recessed along the endof the lip, as shown at 32, 33, 3e, 35, in order to properly coact with the lower edges of the plates for the purpose of elevating the stop fingers 26 and 27 or releasing the block 7 and the bolt 8. Likewise, the secondary key 29 is re cessed as shown at 36, 37, 38, 39, for coaction with the edges of the plates inside the key holes 22, 23, 24:, 25, for the same purpose. Two separate and individual key holes 40 and 41 are cut through the face plate 12 to accommodate the said two keys. The secondary key hole ll, however, is merely a round hole through which the secondary key 29 is permanently and rotatively anchored to the lock and in operative connection with the interior locking mechanism, as described. The secondary key 29 has a handle 13 hinged at 4: 1, and is so adapted to fold up into the holder 15. A wire 16 is then passed through the holes 4C7 in the ears of the holder, and the ends of this wire are sealed with a seal 41-8. Thus the secondary key cannot be used without breaking the seal. In the drawing, four of the combination plates are shown. It is evident that more or less of these plates may be employed without departing from the spirit of my invention. Likewise, the shape of the plates and bolt block may be varied, and while I have herein described a certain specific manner and method of constructing and assembling the elements of my invention, it is understood that I may vary from the same in minor details, not departing from the spirit of my invention, so as best to construct a practical device for the purpose intended, as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A. padlock having two separate and individual key holes and keys, and interior locking and unlocking mechanism to match; the said mechanism being operable by either of the keys alone; one of the said keys being removable and the other being anchored permanently in the lock and adapted to be sealed against operation.

2. A padlock of the kind described, comprising a casing having a shackle aperture and primary and secondary key holes; a key holder attached adjacent the secondary key hole; a shackle pivoted to the casing with the sertion in the said shackle aperture; the said tree end of the shackle having a bolt hole therein; a locking and unlocking mechanism mounted within the casing and adapted to releasably engage the free end of the shackle through its said bolt hole and adapted to be separately and individually operated by either one of the two individual keys through the respective key holes; a removable individual primary key adapted to operate the locking mechanism through the primary key hole; and an individual secondary key rotatably anchored through the secondary key hole and adapted to also operate the said locking mechanism, the said secondary key having a hinged handle adapted to fold into the said holder; and means for sealing the handle of the secondary key within the said holder.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

THEODORE DOLS.

Vl itnesses F. F. Serena P. Hnenv.

free end thereof adapted for in- 

